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Mittwoch, 9. August 2017

This is how you’ll survive the hottest days at the office – the best advice against the heat

Summer
also brings high temperatures with it, not even at during the night do we feel
any relief. We don’t really mind all that during the summer vacation, but it
can get tiring really fast during office time. When outside temperatures reach
30 or 35 degrees, it isn’t much cooler inside either. A/C units aren’t a
standard yet and employers aren’t bound by law to send employees home during
heatwaves. They only have to provide bearable working conditions. Seeing that
companies don´t just close down their business during summer and send their
employees on a vacation, here are a handful of suggestions that can make your
life easier working during a summer heatwave.

1. Ventilate
the office in the morning. Open all the widows in
the morning, when you get to your office and let in the fresh, cool morning air
before it gets hot. Then close all the windows, because later having them open
won’t help at all, as only the hot air circulates. Close the windows and make
use of blinds or curtains. This will keep the office protected from direct
sunlight and hopefully keep the heat away as well.

2.
Use a ventilator. A ventilator is no A/C unit, but
it can still help cooling you down, as it supports the evaporation of sweat
from your skin. But beware - point it at your forehead or neck and you’ll
maximize your chances to get a cold or some sore back and neck muscles and
headaches. It’s better to point the ventilator at your upper body.

3.
Choose the right clothing. Wear light-colored and
airy clothes made from natural fibers. They let your skin breathe and keep your
body safe from overheating.

4. Drink lots of liquids.You know the rule: an
adult should drink about two litres per day. During heatwaves, your body loses
much more humidity than usual, so you should adjust your intake accordingly and
drink up to twice as much. Don’t neglect to stay properly hydrated, as it can
have all sorts of bad consequences, like headaches and drops in concentration.
Stay away from caffeinated or alcoholic beverages and add water to fruit
juices.

5. Cool yourself down.Place cooling pads on the
nape of your neck or on your legs, as they will make the heat more tolerable. Same
goes for the following trick: place your wrists under running, cold tapwater
and keep them there for a few minutes. Another clever idea is filling up a
spray bottle with green tea, cooling it and then using it to moisten your face
and neck every now and then – try it, it’s incredibly refreshing!

6. Begin work sooner. If you can’t beat the heat, get out of it’s way!
Talk with your supervisor about switching up your working hours and begin to
work sooner in the morning. This way, you’ll get the
best of both: working and being productive during the cooler morning hours and
enjoying summer somewhere in the shade, with a drink in your hand during the
afternoon.